Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Angithee-II


Taking yesterday's narrative further, Angithee, the perennial mainstay of Simlaites required sufficient quantity of coal stored and kept handy. A regular purchase and delivery of coal at home was ensured to avoid inconvenience of any kind. One had to be more cautious during winters as we used to have heavy snowfall those days. Two Khan brothers namely Moideen and Sultan regularly used to bring coal to us from Best Coal Company opposite Victory Tunnel. Sometimes Moideen in anticipation of snowfall would bring coal on his own volition and payment for the same would be made later.Such was the trust people had in one another and not without reason.
Only once we were caught unawares in winter due to a sudden heavy snowfall. Even then the two brothers making their way through three feet of snow got us two maunds of coal. I remember my mother serving them hot Parathas and tea while making them sit around the Angithee. God bless their souls !
Once coal had reached it had to broken into small pieces and put in a box. We as children used to lend a helping hand by carrying the broken pieces in a Tasla a number of times to put them in a huge wooden box kept for the purpose. The coal powder that came along was called 'keri' .It was mixed with clay and made into balls which were left to dry. That would supplement the coal as fuel.
Once in my teens, I remember breaking the coal many a time with a small hammer.
Manual labour was involved in all big and small activities . There was no need for gym etc as lot of exercise got done doing work manually... ..

Monday, November 20, 2017

Angeethi


In these days of LPG and other gadgets easily available and affordable, I am amused when a stay at home homemaker complains of being overburdened with daily household chores.I am reminded of my own growing years as a child when the day would start early in the morning with preparing Angeethi for cooking and water heating purposes. The Angeethi was a device made of a tin canister or an old metal bucket, which was got fixed with a spiked net placed inside at middle height to hold fuelwood and burnt coal. The bucket already had a handle while the canister had a bent metal seekh with the ends fixed on two opposite sides.A rectangular opening was kept at the lower half to insert wastepaper for burning and also to take out ash. The upper half was had a thick layer of clay with three or four lumps made on top to hold cookware and utensils.
After the day was done. the Angeethi was emptied of burnt coal and ash was kept ready to be lighted the next morning. Some finely cut fuelwood was put inside from top and some soft coal was put above. Some wastepaper was inserted at the bottom which was burnt first if all for the fuel wood to catch fire.
The angithee had to be periodically filled with fresh coal to keep it going. Every morning, passing through any residential area, one could see smoke rising out of the angeethis left in the open for burning.
Surprisingly, air pollution was not much of an issue then, maybe due to sparse population and absence of an alternative as Angeethi served both the purposes of cooking as well as keeping warm in chilling snowy winters.
Sitting around the well lighted angithee was a favourite pastime in winters, also sometimes taking parched moongphali..

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Salil Chowdhury


Today is the birth anniversary of Salil Chowdhury, the renowned music composer for Hindi, Bengali and Marathi films.Besides this he was able to play flute, piano and dilruba with ease . He was also an accomplished Bengali poet.

Making his debut in Hindi film music in 1953 with Do Bigha Zameen, Salilda went on to compose for other notable films like Naukari, Jagte Raho, Musafir, Madumati,Parakh, Kanoon,Usne Kaha Tha, Kabuliwala, Anokhi Raat,Ittefaq, Sara Aaksh,Anand, Mere Apne, Mausam,Chhoti Si Baat and many others.
He was a recipient of Best Film Music Director Award and Sangeet Natak Academy Award.
Our humble tributes !

Friday, November 17, 2017

Lala Lajpat Rai

"Every blow on my body will prove a nail in the coffin of the British Empire. "

Today is the death anniversary of Punjab Kesri , Lala Lajpat Rai, the great patriot and the revolutionary who belonged to the well known triumvirate Lal- Bal- Pal . He galvanized the people abroad especially in America and garnered support for the Indian Freedom Movement.The entire period of the first World War was spent by him in America in working for the Indian Independence.Back in India in 1920, he continued with the activities. He got beaten mercilessly by the police while leading a procession against the Cripps Mission and subsequently died after a few months this day in 1928.
His words quoted above proved prophetic with the killing of Saunders by the revolutionary, and the subsequent revolutionary activities carried on by Bhagat Singh and his associates Sukhdev and Rajguru ....and many others like Chandrasekhar Azad.
Lala Lajpat Rai's pivotal role in the Indian Independence Movement is unforgettable.
Our humble tributes to the great son of India !

A MALEFACTOR

A MALEFACTOR is a short , rather a very short story by Anton Chekov. 
Denis Grigoryev , an “ exceedingly lean little peasant in a striped hempen shirt and patched drawers” is presented before a magistrate to stand trial. His crime is that one railway watchman Ivan Semyonovitch Akinfov has seen him engaged in removing a fastening nut from the railway line. The description given by Chekov of Denis is of a poor man , hardly of presentable bearing who occasionally removes nuts from a railway line to cast them into weight used in a fishing line. The poor peasant is innocent to the point of admitting the ‘crime’ unmindful of the consequences and the reader is amused to go through the Q & A sequence between the accused and the Magistrate. In common jurisprudence, the admission of a crime by an accused is ground enough to order his punishment under the Law of the Land , without requiring any detailed procedure to be followed but in this case the justice appears to be incomplete. After a brief summary proceedings Denis is sent to prison as a punishment, though there are other accomplices as well named by him. Thus no argument or plea made by him prevails. 

Even to a layman, the removal of a nut from a railway line which may result in accidents happening and the death of many innocent passengers , is a crime that should not go unpunished. During the course of trial, the accused Denis refers to “We people…….The Klimovo peasants , that is” , which shows that besides him many others are engaged in the same criminal activities . Ends of justice would be fully met only if they are also hauled up and are made to face the consequences. Besides,all those who use the weights so made out of the nuts are also equally answerable as they are not ignorant as to from where the iron for making them comes from. The story , which probably is the depiction of a real life incident raises many questions and reflects upon the Justice system prevailing at the time.

‘Justice should not only be done but should also appear to have been done’ is the message put forth by the story.

Wednesday, November 15, 2017

विनोबा भावे

भूदान आंदोलन के प्रणेता, स्वतन्त्रता संग्राम के सेनानी, महान गांधीवादी भारत रत्न विनोबा भावे की आज पुण्यतिथि है।उन्हें रेमन मेगेसैसे पुरस्कार से सम्मानि
प्रथम व्यक्ति होने का गौरव प्राप्त है ।


1983 में उन्हें मरणोपरांत भारत रत्न से भी सम्मानित किया गया था ।
भारतमाता के इस महान सपूत को हमारी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि !

जयशंकर प्रसाद

धरा पर झुकी प्रार्थना सदृश
मधुर मुरली सी फिर भी मौन
किसी अज्ञात विश्व की विकल
वेदना दूती सी तुम कौन.........
हिन्दी साहित्य के महान साहित्यकार जयशंकर प्रसाद की आज 80वीं पुण्यतिथि है। हिन्दी कविता के छायावाद स्वरूप के चार प्रमुख स्तंभों में से एक , प्रसाद जी महाकाव्य ‘कामायनी’ के रचयिता के रूप में अपना विशिष्ट स्थान एवं पहचान रखते हैं। एक कवि के साथ साथ वह एक नाटककार, कथाकार, उपन्यासकार व निबंधकार के रूप में भी जाने जाते हैं ।
47 वर्ष की अल्पायु में इस संसार को अलविदा कह कर चले जाने वाले पुरोधा को हमारी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि !

Cornelia Sorabji


Again thanks to google Doodle today !
Today is the 151st birth anniversary of Cornelia Sorabji , the first woman graduate of Bombay University, the first woman to study Law at Oxford University, the first Indian woman to study in a British University and the first woman Advocate to practice in England and India.She was also a social reformer and a member of a number of such institutions.
She died on July 6, 1954 at London, U.K.
Our humble tributes !

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Salim Ali

Today is the birth anniversary of Salim Ali , a renowned ornithologist and naturalist. He was an avid bird watcher and did extensive and systematic survey of birds at a number of places in India and made a pioneering study of various species and their behavior and habitat and came up with various books on the subject. He is credited with the formation of Bombay Natural History Society and the creation of Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary. He co-authored the ten volume Handbook of the Birds of India and Pakistan, along with Sidney Dillon Ripley , which is considered a classic.
It is interesting to note that Salim Ali , who as a youngster went about hunting and killing sparrows became their preserver , later in life. However even during his hunting sprees also, he made useful study about sparrows. His visit to Burma in connection with the family business brought him more in proximity with nature and forests. Back in Bombay, he , along with Commerce and law studies , pursued Zoology also. He went to Germany also and conducted studies in ornithology along with some experts there.

Many species of birds bear his name as also some Parks and Institutes. 
He was a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. 

Our humble tributes !

TWO OLD MEN

TWO OLD MEN is a popular short story by Leo Tolstoy.Two old men namely Efim Tarasich Sheveley and Elisha Bodrov who live in the same village have long back taken a vow to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem but somehow have not been able to keep it so far.Efim apparently is a rich man , serious natured, without any vices and always remains busy with domestic affairs. Elisha though not as rich as Efim is not poor either and is of a cheerful disposition.

One day Elisha proposes to Efim that together they proceed to Jerusalem on a pilgrimage to keep the vow taken long back and to have God's grace.Efim , involved as he is in his domestic affairs expresses his inability inter alia for the reason that he is short of money as he has already spent a lot on the construction of a new hut.But Elisha by his strong persuasion brings him round and they decide to go.Both arrange money, make necessary preparations, equip themselves with suitable dresses , shoes and necessary items , not without leaving instructions to family members to run the household.They start the long journey on foot.
They stay for the night at different places. At some places they find hospitable people who welcome them at their homes and entertain them with food etc.Efim is a fast walker and Elisha finds it difficult to keep pace with him.At a place Elisha feels a desire to have a drink and tells Efim to keep walking . Efim continues to move alone hoping that soon Elisha will catch up with him.Left behind, Elisha knocks on a door not once but many times but there is no response. At last he opens the door and enters inside.What he sees is simply appalling. This is a family of 5-6 members, literally awaiting death by starvation. Failed crop and famine seem to have taken toll on the kids, the young and the old. There is not even a drop of water in the home , not to speak of anything to eat.
Sensing the difficulty the poor family is in, Elisha opens his bag , takes out the loaves of bread, fetches water from a nearby place and feeds them .He also prepares porridge for them . With food entering their starved bodies , they slowly regain strength and are able to speak. Their plight moves him. He purchases sufficient food items for them, repays their debt to redeem their small piece of land ,buys them a horse and some implements. Seeing that they are on their own and are able to work and fend for themselves, he leaves the place silently without telling his name etc.
Having spent the money on these noble deeds, with money left only sufficient for return journey, he drops the idea of proceeding further and undertakes the back journey.
Reaching home after some days he is welcomed by all. The family members have looked after the household well and everything is fine and in order.
When asked about early return, he cooks up a story that his money got stolen.
Efim on the other hand continues alone also thinking of Elisha and hoping to meet him. Continuing the journey on foot, after many days he reaches at a place from where he boards a ship .The journey is not so smooth and literally the passengers sail through troubled waters.Meanwhile Efim had found a companion,a pilgrim who had purportedly lost his money. He had now become dependent on Efim who only half believes him, worrying all the time that he might steal his money.
Finally the ship reaches Constantinople and they disembark.Efim visits many holy places and on two three occasions finds Elisha,sitting in the front row with his back towards him. Despite efforts to meet him , in the rush and crowd of people,Efim is unable to trace him.
Having visited all places of pilgrimage, Efim proceeds on back journey. Per chance , on return journey he happens to stay at a home where he receives warm welcome and hospitality. The family tells him about a noble soul who had helped them enormously and seen them out of trouble.The description of the man resembling that of Elisha, it takes Efim no time to judge what he had seen at the holy place.
At last Efim also returns home but things at his home are not as good as he had left him.When the two old men meet again and Efim tries to broach the topic, Elisha changes it and the matter remains a secret between them only.
Efim knows that Elisha's pilgrimage has been better.
A wonderful story !

Saturday, November 11, 2017

Anasuya Sarabhai


Google doodle today informs of the 132nd birth anniversary of Anasuya Sarabhai, the pioneer of Women's Labour Movement in India. Born in 1885 at Ahmedabad, in a rich industrialist family, she lost her parents at the age of nine and together with a brother and a younger sister was brought up by an uncle. She was married at the age of 13.

In 1912 she was sent to England to study medicine but simply put off by animal dissection which was against Jain beliefs, she instead joined the London School Of Economics. She was greatly influenced by the Fabian society. Returning to India, she started the Women's Labour Movement and took up the cause of women textile workers and weavers and as a result of the hunger strike undertaken by Mahatma Gandhi, an increase of 35 percent in wages was obtained. In 1920 she founded the Ahmedabad Textile Labourers' Association.She also mentored Ela Bhatt, who founded the SEWA.
She was the aunt of Vikram Sarabhai, the eminent Physicist.
Blessed with a long life she died in 1972.
Our humble tributes to the remarkable lady !

Thursday, November 9, 2017

HIMACHAL ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS-2017

At last the periodical  ritual of  voting  for election to   the sixty eight seats of Himachal Pradesh  Legislative Assembly took place  today, the 9th of November by and large peacefully,thanks to meticulous directions and instructions issued by the  Election Commission of India and the elaborate arrangements made by the state for the  smooth conduct  of this quinquennial exercise. However there is a long wait for the contesting candidates who may sit with fingers crossed as the results will be declared only after counting takes place on  18th December  when the cat will be out of the bag.


Apart from the   massive coverage by the print and visual media , these  elections will be remembered for  the  mud slinging and the slandering game played by the parties in the fray. Somehow there was grist for every mill  and the  political  parties were on the defensive  due to lapses and irregularities  unearthed  and talked about at this crucial time. Many idioms, phrases and proverbs  learnt during schooldays , but long forgotten  due to disuse like  “the kettle calling the pot black” ,  “ sweep before your own door “  & “the devil quoting  scriptures”…..came on the tip of the tongue, effortlessly and  spontaneously  seeing what was being uttered by the campaigners and supporters. 
 During the election campaign, one saw rare ingenuity in slogans  devised by the parties ; it is another matter that the slogans  and claims  seemed   hollow in view of the ground reality . However this time  not much of  ‘dil se’ or ‘phir se’ was heard, the ball being left in the court of the voter. .
  In exposing others one got exposed itself.One is left to wonder why the so called   “ star campaigners "-   from the other states  with little knowledge of the state or its problems are thrust upon the  public. They had nothing new to say or offer   except  blowing the trumpet of the party ,  they belonged to and  were canvassing  for , repeatedly counting  policies and ‘successes’ and deriding the opposite party.   At every point  one felt that the voter had no choice  except to choose what to him or her  appeared   worthwhile, irrespective of what was being  promised .

The introduction of  VVPAT at the polling stations is a welcome addition.


 Again this time also  one Shyam Saran Negi   from Kalpa in  Kinnaur ,  ‘first voter of  India’ who  has voted in all elections held since 1952 found  some mention as having turned a centenarian. Some special arrangements were reported to have been made to take him to the polling booth to  enable him to cast his vote.Today itself he was shown on the TV screeen  with a message for voting.  As reports have poured in, he cast his vote this time also. The elections apart from affording  an opportunity  to the voter to exercise his choice, also contain a lesson to  parties and the Governments that they need  to perform to  lay their claim for future governance. One  also hopes that when the New Assembly gets constituted ,   the elected  Members will be accessible to the people . 

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Raja Rao


Today is the birth anniversary of Raja Rao, the doyen of Indian writing in English . Together with Mulk Raj Anand and R.K.Narayan , he constitutes the formidable triumvirate of Indian writers, writing in English and among the first being published abroad. 
His novel ‘Kanthapura’ written in 1938 was an epoch making work, being the first major novel written in English. It is a microcosm of the Indian village life in all its evils and idiosyncrasies. Kanthapura , a small nondescript village beset with social evils like untouchability, and blind faith , under Gandhi’s influence plunges itself into civil disobedience & non cooperation movements and becomes a model of passive resistance and non violence .The Gandhian way is propogated through hari katha, the traditional narrative mode. The events unfolding also show woman power asserting itself and working in tandem with the male residents of the village. In a way the novel also comes across an encapsulated story of struggle for Independence . 
In ‘Serpent and the Rope’ Raja Rao juxtaposes the illusion and the reality , the two important ingredients of Indian Culture and is a journey in search of spiritual truth in Europe and India. 
Raja Rao emerged as a nationalist novelist , despite the later part of his education being in Paris. He was deeply influenced by Gandhi and Gandhian ways and thought find a prominent place in his ‘Kanthapura’ and other writings as also his short stories. He also wrote a biography of Gandhi, called ’ The Great Indian Way: A Life of Mahatma Gandhi’, 1998. 
Besides ‘Kanthapura’ and ‘The Serpent and the Rope’ he wrote three more novels , namely
‘The Cat and Shakespeare: A Tale of India’, ‘Comrade Kirillov’, and ‘The Chessmaster and His Moves (1988)’
Besides many collection of short stories, his non – fiction works include ‘Changing India: An Anthology (edited with Iqbal Singh),Tomorrow (edited with Ahmed Ali),Whither India? (edited with Iqbal Singh) and ’The Meaning of India, essays’
He was a recipient of Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Sahitya Academy Award.
Our humble tributes to the celebrity Writer !

Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee


Today is the death anniversary of Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee , OBE, the first Chief of Staff of the Indian Air Force. Commissioned into the Royal Indian Air Force in 1932, he saw action in the NWFP and the Second World War and commanded a Squadron. For his meritorious service, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire.Post independence , he was recruited in the Indian Air Force and rose to be the Chief of Air Staff in 1954.
He was the first Indian officer to command a flight, a squadron and finally the Force itself. Besides OBE, he was also the recipient of India General Service Medal,India Service Medal and Indian Independence Medal.He is also called the Father of Indian Air Force.
He died in Tokyo in 1960, aged 49.
Our humble tributes !

Sitara Devi


Today is the birth anniversary of Sitara Devi, a Kathak proponent and an eminent danseuse. Born this day in Calcutta on Dhanteras day in 1920,she was named Dhanalakshmi. She was initiated into dancing by her father and started performing on stage at a very young age. Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore seeing her perform on stage named her Nrityasamragyi, a compliment and a tribute to her dancing talent.International acclaim came to her when she performed at Royal Albert Hall, London and the Carnegie Hall New York in 1967 & 1976 respectively.

She also appeared in some Hindi film performing dance numbers.Known and celebrated as Kathak Queen, many awards and honours came her way.
She was a recipient of the coveted Sangeet Natak Academy Award and Padmashri.
In later years when she was nominated for Padma Bhushan award, she declined it calling it more an insult than an honour.
She died on 25th November, 2014 aged 94.
Our humble tributes !

One year of Demonetization


The announcement of the government decision to demonetize Rs 500/- & Rs.1000/- currency notes his day last year- Notebandi in common lingo - took everyone by surprise. A day or two before I had withdrawn some amount which was all in 500 denomination , to pay for the new dining chairs. My wife too had some amount -bigger than mine- in Rs.500 notes withdrawn for some Diwali purchases, which could not somehow mature. Put together , the amount formed a fraction of the 'dreaded' or the 'accursed' amount of Rs. Two Lakh Fifty Thousand . However the notes were deposited in the Bank standing in a queue for 2-3 hours on 10th November, the very first day at the same time exchanging the amount in new currency restricted to the limit of Rs.4000/- per person. Up came some Facebook posts boasting by some friends that they had no Rs.500/- or Rs.1000/- note with them that needed to be deposited, making others feel guilty of the 'crime' of possessing them.It took quite a few months for the things to come to normal for a person like me , but the impact on the public especially small traders, labour class and those having big functions like marriage in the family was enormous. 
Compare this to the 1978 demonetization of Rs 1000/- notes, it was a smooth transition , without creating any ripples or flutter and the Government of the day did not introduce currency of this denomination for years together.

Sunday, November 5, 2017

WHERE LOVE IS, GOD IS


In school we had an English poetry collection prescribed as a text book in Class X. The first poem in the book was 'Abou Ben Adam' by Leigh Hunt . The poem carried a beautiful message that Love for mankind is the love for God which surpasses all kinds of rituals and worship of God in fulfilling one's life.
A few days back, I read the short story ' Where love is, God is' by Leo Tolstoy, extending the same idea further.
The story is about a cobbler named Martin Avdeich, a sincere worker who while doing his job with perfection is honest to the point of not taking up something he cannot finish on time.Fate had not been kind to him as he lost all his children while still infants and his wife except a three year old son. As he decides to keep his son with him only instead of sending him to live with his sister, after some days this only surviving child also has fever and dies.
Martin Avdeich, all broken and shaken is advised by a pilgrim of his acquaintance to read Bible. Martin purchases a copy of Bible and starts reading it on holidays. Soon it interests him so much that he starts reading it daily, even at night in the light of a lamp.One day he comes across the story of a Pharisee that invites Jesus to his house and there a lady washes Jesus's feet with her tears.This incident as related in the Bible haunts him so much that he hears God telling him that He would visit him.
Next day he invites Stepanich, a worker who is shoving snow outside. He serves him with warm drink and tells about Jesus. Next he finds a woman with a child . The woman is equipped to bear and face the cold . Martin gives her warm clothes and some money. 
The same day he settles the matter between an old woman and a boy after he finds that the latter has stolen something from the woman.
It is only during the night that God reveals to him that He had visited Martin in the garb of Stepanich, whom he had served drink, the woman whom he had given clothes & money and the old lady whom he had helped.
Thus the story has a beautiful message that serving humanity is the best way to worship God.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

BHAI MARDANA


I have written before about Gyani Balkar Singh,our Punjabi teacher in school, who taught and told us many things beyond textbooks.
During one of his lectures in the class, he told us about BHAI MARDANA, who became a disciple and companion of Guru Nanak during the Guru's journeys through India and Asia.
It is common knowledge that Mardana was born to Muslim parents who lived in Rai Bhoin Di Talwandi the same place in today's Pakistan where Guru Nanak was born. As for the name Mardana , there is an interesting anecdote that our teacher told us. The mother of Mardana remained sad and worried as all her children died sooner or later. It is said that she used to call this son also Marjana, as she believed that he would also die like his other siblings because of a curse that was purported to have befallen the family.It is said that Guru Nanak asked for her son to be given to him to which the mother agreed. Guru Nanak named him MARDANA which when split sounds Marda- Na which means 'won't die'. The family was thus saved from the curse of early deaths . Mardana not only became the first person to enter the Sikh sect, but also lived long and into his seventies.
Wikipedia also has the same story albeit with some twist. However the basic fact remains the same.

Friday, November 3, 2017

Reshma

Today is the death anniversary of Reshma , the singer.
“Char dina da pyaar o rabba, badi lambi judai………”
When folk singer Reshma from across the border lent her beautiful voice to this song for the Bollywood flick “Hero “ in the eighties, this came as a whiff of fresh air as the singer’s voice apart from timbre had a folksy charm to it. The song became and is still popular after more than three decades down the line. Reshma’s had become a household name for every music lover.
Thanks to YouTube, many a time I have listened to a captivating duet by her and Pervez Mehdi-
“ Goriye mein jana pardes ………….” .
Both the singers come out at their best in this composition and literally it transports me to another world. Reshma, who always was soft spoken , and to hear her voice rising to a crescendo when singing is indeed a wonderful experience. Again that earthy/ folksy charm comes to the fore.
Our humble tributes to the great singer.

Major Somnath Sharma PVC

Today is the 70th death anniversary of Major Somnath Sharma PVC, who laid down his life while fighting the Pakistani infiltrators .
The young officer aged 24 became the first Param Vir Chakra awardee.
Our humble tributes to the brave soldier !

Prem Nath


Today is the death anniversary of Prem Nath the popular Bollywood actor. In a career that spanned almost four decades, he made his debut in the film Daulat ke Liye and went on to act in films like Aag, Barsaat,Hindustan Hamara,Sagai, Awaara,Badal, Aan, Aurat ,Shaheed Bhagat Singh, Sikander-e-Azam, Baharon ke Sapne,Amrapali,Teesri Manzil , Shor, Bobby and many others.

Our humble tributes to the popular actor !

Prithvi Raj Kapur

Today is the birth anniversary of Late Prithvi Raj Kapur, the doyen of Hindi Cinema and patriarch of Kapur family, whose fourth generation is now in acting . Prithvi Raj Kapur was not only a great actor but also a great theatre personality , a founder-member of IPTA and the founder of Prithvi Theatre.A highly talented actor, he acted in silent movies also.He had a supporting role in the first talkie Alam Ara.
His role in Vidyapati brought him accolades and later his role in Sohrab Modi's Sikander catapulted him to fame . He is remembered most for his stellar role in Mughal-e- Azam, the block buster movie of the times and his role in the film Harishchandra Taramati was also highly appreciated. He had the lead role in Punjabi movies- Nanak Naam Jahaaz hai & Nanak Dukhiya Sab Sansaar and left a bench mark in acting.
He was a recipient of Padma Bhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Our humble tributes to the legendary film and theatre personality !

सदाशिव अमरापुरकर

बतौर खलनायक अपने सशक्त अभिनय से दर्शकों की भरपूर 'गालियाँ' बटोरने वाले प्रतिभासम्पन्न कलाकार सदाशिव अमरापुरकर की पुण्यतिथि पर उन्हें हमारी विनम्र श्रद्धांजलि !